Maya Bilbao

18 + years experience as a television and Canadian heritage researcher with expertise in documentary production, interviewing, and location scouting.

Writer/Researcher - THE CANADIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA

(2021-08)

• Researches and writes articles for The Canadian Encyclopedia. So far this has included features on AES-90, Cardiac Pacemaker, Edwin A. Baker. Interviews, fact checks, conducts visual research.

Researcher, Still Standing - FRANTIC FILMS for CBC

(2015-08)

• First point of contact for explaining the mission of Still Standing to towns, governments, businesses, industries across Canada. Locates and researches towns. (49 episodes from Season 2- Season 6). Attends conferences, conducts interviews, locates characters and storylines, keeps in contact with towns.

Researcher, We Are Canada - WHITE PINE PICTURES for CBC

(2016-04 - 2016-11)

• Located and researched 5 stories for We Are Canada, that featured changemakers across Canada.

Location Scout - OMDC

(2016-08)

• Researches potential historical/current locations at the OMDC Digital Library for TV/film projects.

Special Assistant - OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

(2014-04 - 2014-11)

• Connected constituents to municipal divisions, attended public and private events with Mayor, facilitated the completion of complex municipal matters. Handled hundreds of phone calls and in person meetings.

Location Scout/Production Assistant - DNA FILMS

(2012)

Gained experience scouting locations for web commercials.

• "Labatt Family Talk": Delivered Letter of Notification to area residents, acted as P.A. on day of shoot.
• "Kraft: Slice of the Living Dead": Sourced appropriate locations, obtained Location Permit, prepared Letter of Notification, worked with Property Management, acted as P.A. on day of shoot.
• "Canon C300 Commercial": Performed site visit of 1 King West in Toronto. Negotiated fee for use of spaces.

Lead Researcher & Writer/ Video Editor – TV Series, "Structures" - ROGERS TELEVISION-TORONTO

(1998 - 2012)

• Assisted Producer with selecting topics to feature, training volunteers, selecting music, obtaining copyright.
• Performed detailed research for 110+ features, the majority of the show's programming from 1998-2012. Features included landmarks, neighbourhoods, people in history, and urban spaces.
• Conducted hundreds of in-person and phone interviews with architects, engineers, heritage organisations, businesses, and citizens. Built up extensive contact base to further raise profile of program.
• Fully researched content. This included sourcing content through magazines, newspapers, books, historic maps & plans, paintings, photographs, audiovisuals.

Lead Writer & Researcher, "Toronto's Houses of Worship" - WNED-ROGERS TV

(2005)

Lead researcher and scriptwriter of documentary focusing on significant religious structures in Toronto.

Bachelor of Arts - Political Science - McMaster University (1996)